The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-12-21


was already blazing, and began to pile on
the long dry sticks of beech and hickory,
until, in few moments, perfect sheet of
flame was roaring up the wide throated
chimney.
Grandma Botsworth, who sat in her ac-
customed corner by the lamb" busy
with her knitting, made no reply; while
Uncle Billy proceeded to remove his coat,
hat and boots, and. having filled and
lighted his pipe, sat down TO enjoy HIM
self. Outside, a furious snow-storm was
raging, and already the earth was heavily
carpeted with white. Presently his two
sons, Jacob and Milton, came in from
doing up the chores, and, like their father,
were soon Invested of caps, coats and
boots, and seated before the rousing fire
talking over the events of the day. A little
later Mrs. Botsworth joined them, and then
the family circle was complete. No, not
complete, either; daughter was missing
Three years ago this Christmas eve she had
,gone out from the parental roof to marry
the man she loved. but whom her father
had forbidden some time before to enter
his doors. But Mary had gone; and she
and her husband, poor mechan C, went
out West to build up forthemseves home
and fortune. After they were married,
q day or two before they were TO start for
the old home, where she got out of The buggy
and started to 90 into the house to say
good-by. She did not ask nor expect for
giveness from her father for what she had
done; but she knew her mother and her
brothers still loved her. and would gladly
have her come TO see them. SO she just
had her hand on the gate-latch, and, with
tear-tilled eyes, was taking in the dear and
familiar surroundings, when her father,
coming round the corner of the house, saw
her.
Don't yer come in here" he yelled,
hoarsely. Don't step your foot inside o.
that gate, Mary Ellen Botsworth. You're
no darter o mine. Take yer Ratchet faced
paint singer, an git"
For q moment she stood as if stunned ut
his words; then, without a word, tuned
and went TO the buggy. Her husband
helped her in, and then standing up ana
shakinI his whip at Uncle Billy, said:
bill Botsworth, if you wasn't my wife's
father I'd thrash you till you couldn't walk
for a week. You object to me for n SON.
in-law only because | am poor; but I'll
see the day / can Luy an sell you s if you
was black, darn you.
Here Mary laid her hand on his arm
and said, "Stop, VIII; it won't help things
any to quarrel; let's CO."
1t was we'll that Will needed her advice,
for old Uncle Billy had started for the
buggy with murder i'll his eye; and there is
no telling what might have happened had
not Milton and Jacob, ut this juncture,
made their appearance and urged him to be
quiet.
So Mary went from home an outcast;
and. as the buggy disappeared around the
bend in the road, Milton turned to his
father, and, with tears in his eyes, said, re-
proachfully:
pap, you oughtener have done it.
And Mrs. Botsworth. who had come to
the door just in time to take in the affair,
echoed her sons words:
"No, pap, you was too hasty," she added.
~Mary Ellen was allus a mighty good girl;
an, though I'd ruther she'd not married
Will Kenney. yet l hope the Lord will
prosper 'em BOTH"
"You are right, mother" said Jacob, the
elder of her sons, you are right mother.
sFilsey' (the nickname the boys had be-
slowed upon Mary when she was toddler)
was the best girl in Indiany; kind an low
Yin, an sister worth the hayin'."
AS for Uncle Billy, seeing his whole
family up in arms against him, he vouch-
safed no reply, but turning, strobe rapidly
away in the direction Of the barn.
From that time on he had never spoken
his daughters name. And although he
knew that mother and the boys got occa-
rsional letters from her, yet he never by
sign or inquiry, showed that he ever
thought of her, or had the slightest interest
in knowing whether she was dead or alive.
But on the Christmas eve that have in
PRODUCED him to your notice, he sat by the
fire thinking; and his thoughts we're OF
her. He had long ago admitted to himself
that he was too hasty when he drove his
nm v Hon frnu IL ht1t ha
still remained silent. At each family re-
union, always held on Christmas day, he
had missed her. And as the coming ore
was to be held at his house, and his BROTH
ers and sisters with their families would
be there, he, with some bitterness Of feel.
ing, was brooding over the fact, tina,
through no fault OK his. no reasoned, the
pleasures of the day would De married
Everybody missed Mary; the children o.